bamboozle coverage, part four: an interview with lovedrug

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010 |

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I'm not entirely sure what "midgets in the desert" sound like, but if that's how Lovedrug describe their music, then I like it. I talked with vocalist/guitarist Michael Shepard and bassist Thomas Bragg for a quick interview at Bamboozle.

Describe your sound.Thomas: It's kind of like...like midgets in the desert.
Michael: It's like midgets in the desert having a show.
Thomas: A medieval orgy.
Michael: A medieval orgy. No, it's like sexy rock and roll I guess it what you'd call it.

So you have been in the music industry longer than a lot of the bands here, right?Thomas: Yeah.
Michael: I don't know about all of them but we've been a band for about 9 years.

How did the band get started?Michael: Well, we all wanted to play music and so we started a band together. That's pretty much how bands start.
Me: There's no interesting story about it?
Michael: No there's nothing interesting about it actually.

Where did the band name come from?Michael: Well we all love drugs.
Thomas: Yeah.
Michael: No it doesn't mean that at all.
Thomas: We also loved rugs.
Michael: No, it's supposed to mean love dragging you, there's like a passion in life for something you really can't live without is sort of the meaning behind the name. Love drags you into it whether you want to go or not.

Where do you get your inspiration from and who are your biggest influences?Michael: Kind of all over the place. I don't know, do we go to the influence store?
Thomas: I think it's that time.
Michael: We shop at the influence store regularly.
Thomas: So I don't know, I would say there's a lot of influences. One of my favorite bands is Black Rebel Motorcycle Club so I listen to them a lot. I don't know, big Beatles fan, stuff like that.
Michael: We're kind of all over the map, the whole band listens to different types of music
Thomas: Soundgarden
Michael: A lot of Soundgarden.

How do you think you've grown as a band and as individuals since being together?Thomas: We've grown closer.
Michael: We've grown a lot closer. We've established a much higher tolerance for liquor. And generally just become happy.
Thomas: Yeah, we've learned to live with each other a little more too.

What are your plans for the near future? Are you touring, recording, writing, etc.?Thomas: All of the above. We set out on a tour in June with a band called All the Day Holiday.
Me: Love them. They're great guys.
Thomas: Yeah they really are. We released one of a set of 3 eps, we have one staged for June, all building up towards a record towards the end of this year.

Is there anything else you want to tell our readers?Michael: Stay tuned.
Thomas: And we love all of you.
Michael: And we love all of you.